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DREAM ON 11 months ago

Shanmarie I loved both stories. I can see the whole family having fun and enjoying all the animals and creatures. You should turn your stories into a book . The adventures Of Shanmarie.I had some computer and phone trouble keeping me busy. I had a bucket outside to catch rain water and a mouse got caught in it and drowned. Thank you for explaining in wonderful detail the humorous way things happened. Have a lovely morning. Thanks for sharing and caring.

Author

DREAM ON 11 months ago

Vocal coach It is so important to stop and catch our breath. I often move along at a comfortable speed trying to fit as much as I can in my day. Then other days I have so much to do I make lists that when I have more time I can do a little more. Thank you for reading and caring.

Shannon 11 months agofrom Texas

Well, since I started this tale of the rats/mice with you. . . might as well share the rest of it. You know how they say you learn something new every day? today I learned that rats can carry a disease which might even kill humans if the rat bites a human. How did I learn this, you may ask? My daughter had her heart set on keeping that rescued rat as a pet. I think she's gonna be a zoologist or a veterinarian when she grows up. LOL. This little rat was surprisingly docile and let her hold it. She fed it water and cheese. Perhaps it trusted her, though from online reading, I found out that fats like to cuddle and that they can be litter trained, not that I would ever allow a rat to roam free in my home. Anyway, after considering that maybe we might let her keep it, we visited a pet store, which is where I learned that rats can carry that disease. I can't remember what it's called, but they make customers sign a waiver when they purchase rats because of the disease even though their rats come from a lab and have been tested for it. Just in case. Well, kind of a no-brainer then that she would not be keeping her rat. It didn't act as if it wanted to bite her, but of course we aren't taking chances. No way to even feel reasonably certain it doesn't carry the disease since it's never been tested for it.

The lady at the pet store was very helpful and informative. Wouldn't you know we ended up with three pet mice, one for each kid? Mice don't have that particular disease and no waiver necessary. Plus, they are cheaper. Now, considering we had yet another dead rat left for us on the kitchen floor, I'm hoping they don't let the cats in the room with their mice. But, they no better, so they will have no one to blame but themselves if they are careless.

Sigh. . .didn't expect to end up with a golden mouse named Goldie, a white mouse named Blue, and a black and white one currently called No Name.

Between the pet crawfish they found in the yard last year, the mice, the cats, the dogs. ..I think I have a zoo! They tried to keep a grasshopper at one point and lady bugs. Their friends tried to give them a snake, but my husband pointed out it was a copperhead and no way were they going to have it. I would've said no to that anyway. LOL. No wild snakes ever. I might be more willing to consider a corn snake. Of course,I said no to the rat too and look where that ended up going. . .I expected my husband to tell her no, too. That's where I went wrong. That's what I get for trying not to be the bad guy. hahahaha

Looks like, however, our current pest control needs help. More mice and rats than the cats can handle living in the walls.

Shannon 11 months agofrom Texas

LOL. We used to have a couple of cats that were litter mates. When they were kittens, they would catch the mice that came in (we lived in a town with woods everywhere) and they would put them in bed with us at night. So we'd wake up with dead mice under the blankets by our feet or sometimes they would put them under the mattress. We lived in this one room thing that needed a lot of work and we didn't have a bed yet so it was just an air mattress. Sometimes they buried the mice up under the mattress and we wouldn't find them until we started to smell them. Ugh!

I actually think mice are cute. My problem with all the mice they've been catching lately is that only one of the cats we currently have eats them. Last time Big Foot caught one, he batted it around so much, catching it and releasing it that I felt sorry for the mouse and rescued it. It remained in a box all night long until my husband dumped it outside, only for the dog to come devour it as it attempted to scurry off.

Then we have two black and white cats, Arrow and Oreo, that we actually had before Big Foot. Big Foot was rescued from up under out house when my mother-in-law's hound dog trapped him. They live next door to us. Anyway, Oreo and Arrow are great at catching the mice, but they are usually left in front of my daughter's bedroom doorway for some reason or just inside her doorway.

Now. . .the RAT that Oreo caught was placed on the counter top. Yes, that's my biggest issue, THE KITCHEN COUNTER!!!!! And this was no mouse. It was a rat with a long pointy nose and a big ratty tail. It was the size of out kitten that was found in a parking lot by our neighbor. She gave it to my youngest son, so we ended up with a fourth cat named Piggy. Piggy got her name because she eats EVERYTHING, except for the rat. Oreo picked her up and threw her off the counter when she attempted to investigate. Then he pranced back and forth purring proudly. He decided to rub all up against my son as if it were a gift for him. His reaction was kind of funny.

So yeah. . .not the most pleasant part of my day. But it had its comical merits. Plus, I'd rather there not be a rat living under my kitchen sink. Maybe the wet weather that's been more abundant of late is driving the rodants inside.

Oh. ..and there's the pumpkin we harvested from our own vine that somehow survived the heat of the summer in the shade. The other pumpkins that started withered away. Now there are more coming and hopefully, they will survive. Then I won't have to buy pumpkins for their annual school pumpkin decorating contest or jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Not to mention, my daughter loves roasted pumpkin seeds. It was an accidental vine, but well worth the jungle it's creating across the ground in front of our porch. The crazy things that come from life. LOL. Sometimes you just gotta laugh and go on. Of course, it's better when there are people to laugh with you.

Audrey Hunt 11 months agofrom Nashville Tn.

Well, I began my day by reading your entertaining poem. Slept late. But spent some time counting my blessings. Good health, a roof over my little head, my family, animals, nutritious food to eat and the peace that dwells within me in spite of lifes array of challenges.

Speaking of gratitude the love I have for music, the passion and even the need, has provided me with a life-time of fulfillment as well as a nice pay-check. How lucky for me to be able to raise three kids all by myself and provide for them by playing piano, singing on stage and giving lessons to boot!

Is my life perfect now? Not since I lost my beautiful, loving son to cancer. But I do the best I can...I try. Oh how I try.

Author

DREAM ON 11 months ago

Shanmarie Cats are so fast mice don't stand a chance. I had an outdoor cat who would find a mouse in the house and toy with it and not catch it. Then another time I caught the cat with a tail hanging out of it's mouth. We lived near the marsh and field mice are common. They are always trying to get in the house in the fall when the weather turns cold. I have seen big water rats on high tides. I am like you. I don't like either. Ugly looking creatures. Now I put down glue traps places where the mice can go and our cat can't. They walk on them and get stuck and out in the trash they go. I hope the rest of your day is going well. Thank you so much for reading and sharing.

Author

DREAM ON 11 months ago

Nellieanna I am so happy for the exciting news about you doing wonderful at the doctors. It's funny when you think of all the things we do in a day , times 365 days in one year and add up all the years , now that's some life. I am enjoying one day at a time and sharing so much love for all mankind. This election is going to be different than any other presidential election in the past. I have never seen politics go so crazy. I am not sure who would do a better job. I personally think their only half qualified and this election they should share the office. Two heads are better than one. They both seem to make up the rules as they go along. God Bless America. I am happy trying to do the right thing and earning an honest living treating people with respect and kindness all the time. I don't think anyone should hold an office that lies, cheats and insults any nationality. The president of the United States should be an office of respect and honor. Anything less than that is a disgrace and an embarrassment to all the presidents before. Thank you for reading and sharing. Shells

Shannon 11 months agofrom Texas

Bugs? How about rats? Yes, I said rats, not to be confused with mice.One of the cats finally caught the "mouse" under the sink. He was so proud of himself, too. It was actually kind of amusing. That thing was as big as the kitten.

Nellieanna Hay 11 months agofrom TEXAS

Oh, my, Michael. You did have a panoramic mixture of lovely things, comfy things and that one yucky thing for your day! But of course, you see it all as a good day! Bravo! Glad you had an effective ointment for the bite. Don't need to get any of the bad bites going around in some areas.

My day today started great and there was a variety of great and less-great experiences in the process of getting out for an annual medical checkup, but after I got home and ate, which I'd run out of time to do before I left, I began to be restored. I was so happy, glad and thankful to be home! I do love being home! There is so much to love about it! My nest.

Otherwise, I'm trying to stay current on the presidential race so I'll know the people I'm supposed to choose between, come November. Seems that of the two, each of whose whole records are less than wonderful, the one I've had the least admiration for all along keeps proving to be the least admirable, if not downright reprehensible.

Anyway, what will be, will be and then we'll all get to see how it develops in the actual reality of the presidency, after all the claims, promises and mud-slinging are more quiet; -- or will they be? Some sore losers just can't give it up. We've seen that before.

I've lived through all the presidencies since Herbert Hoover, who served his last year of office after I was born. There aren't any perfect people and presidents are all people. Imperfection exists, but this time, the degree of it seems much more serious. I pray for our country.

Personally, this week has brought both my medical annual checkups (regular & specialist) and I was given good scores, so I am tickled pink about it. I won't have to see any more of them till next August, 2017, except for a couple of routine follow-throughs, such as the annual mammogram and bone density exam always prescribed following the checkups; - (other ways to get Medicare to pay. haha.)